Apparatus for the disintegration of materials



,. S pt- 9&1941. F. (2. GOOD 2,255,213

APPARATUS FOR THE DISINTEGRATION OF MATERIALS 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 V FiledFeb 15, 1939 Z5 lw -i) w Sept. 9, 1941. F. c. soon 2,255,213

APPARATUS FOR THE DISiNTEGRATION 0F MATEhIALS Filed Feb. 15, 1939 3Sheets-Shet 2 fizz/@2220) EEdEIfZ CZ G OOJ p 2-1941,- -F. c. GOOD 72,255,213

*Ai'nnxrus FOR THE DISINTEGRATIONIOF MATERIALS Filed Feb. 15, 1939 aSheets-Sfiet s v [nverztaf filiarw Patented Sept. 9, 1941 Frederick 0.GM, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application February 15, 1939, Serial No. 256,803

1 Claim. (01. sgi-ss) The present invention relates to an apparatus fortreating materials or substances, particularly insoluble or immisciblematerials or substances, whereby they are disintegrated and worked uponin a novel manner to assure an adequate and effective breaking down ofparticles and the proper mixing and homogenization thereof.

Heretofore, two methods have been generally known, followed, andutilized in the art to treat materialsand substances for thedisintegration and homogenization thereof. According to one of saidknown methods, the materials or substances are subjected to a rubbing orgrinding action which results in crushing the treated materials orsubstances into minute fragments or particles and more or lessintermixing them into a homogeneous mass. This particular known methodis realized-by passing the materials 'or substances as a film throughso-called plate mills wherein are arranged or grinding surfaces setJustment.

aralleling opposed plates in close micrometer ad- According to the otherof said known methods,, the materials or substances are subjected to a,

high pressure and thereby forced through mediums acting to reducethetreated materials or substances to particles which then become moreor less agglomerated into a homogeneous mass. This second known methodis usually realized by introducing the materials or substances intoso-called hydraulic 'mills provided with hydraulic or like high pressurepumps adapted to force said materials or substances through valveshaving fine apertures.

Whereas, in theory, either or both of the methods and the apparatus usedin the performance thereof should produce the desired results, it hasbeen found, in practice, that in the treatment of a wide variety ofinsoluble and immiscible materials or substances, they are impracticalbe- 40 cause in plate mills where a film of material is ground betweentwo opposed surfaces, the friction of many types of materials, by theirrubbing action in passing between the plates, heats up the latter,causing expansion to such an extent apertures of the valves clogs anddeforms the latter, requiring their frequent removal, re-

the cost of upkeep, operation, and labor, with the accompanyingconsequences of loss of time and production.

vention to provide apparatus for treating materials or substances in animproved and novel manner, whereby the disintegration and homogenizationof such materials or substances may 5 be accomplished effectively andeconomically with a minimum of time and labor.

Another equally important object of the invention resides in theprovision of an apparatus for treating materials or substances to affordmaximum reduction and complete disintegration and homogenization, theapparatus being devised so that its use is not restricted to anyparticular substance, but may be employed to treat any substance ormaterial that can be caused to pass or flow through the apparatus.

The invention is moreover characterized in that it provides an apparatusof the-type stated which may be easily installed and operated, which is.positive in action, requiring no watching or attention, and is ofcompact, rugged coninvention will be in part obvious and in part ,1pointed out hereinafter.

struction an apparatus which may be put to the widest possible range ofeuse, and capable of treating materialsat both relatively high and-i lowtemperatures, without impairing its efliciency 25 of operation; and anapparatus which may be thoroughly cleaned without dismantling or openingthe same and thus capable of being put to use immediately aftercleaning.

Other important objects and advantages of the In accordance with thepresent invention, the materials or substances to be treated are fed andallowed to pass or flow continuously through a series of passagewayswithout rubbing or grinding action, and without being subjected to anypeatedly cut or shreaded or beaten up and, in that condition, flung orhurled with great force against impact walls or surfaces until thematerials or substances are reduced to the desired fineness, to assureproper disintegration and tion, is obtained by means of repeated impacts-which may be had by providing high speed rotors surrounded by walls,the materials or substances grinding, or replacement, all of whichincrease to be treated being flung. or hurled against said walls fromthe periphery of said high speed rotors which, in actuality, travel at arate of approximately five thousand peripherial feet per It is,therefore, theprimary purpose of the inmin p to peripherial Speeds 9 Sixl s Per aforesaid, the materials or substances are rescription basedthereupon, wherein is set forth an apparatus particularly constructedand adaptable to accomplish the results abovementioned.

In these drawings:

Figure 1 is a view in elevation embodying the present invention; IFigure 2 is a plan view of the upper end of the main or body portion ofthe apparatus shown i Fi e 1:

Figure 3 is an enlarged view in section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1:

Figure 4 is an enlarged view in section vertically through the main orbody portion of said apparatus, illustrating the details of constructionand arrangement of the essential parts thereof; Figure 5 is afragmentary view in perspective of one of the stationary members of theapparatus.

Figure 6 is a view in perspective illustrating the construction of oneof the rotor elements of the apparatus;

Figure '7 is a view Figure 4.

Referring more particularly to the drawings,

in section on line 'I-'| of wherein like characters of reference willdesiB- nate corresponding parts throughout, the apparatus essentiallycomprises one or more annular stationary members I cooperatively.assbciated with one or more rotor elements 2. As shown particularly inFigure 5, the annular stationary members I are formed to include animpact wall portion 3 and an overhanging inwardly projecting flangeportion 3a whichis provided with a series of openings 4 of predeterminedsize and shape extending substantially vertically therethrough andhaving their upper ends preferably countersunk as indicated at '5. Theseannular stationary members I form in effect the wall of the main or bodyportion of the apparatus and a plurality of them are secured againstrotation in properly centered superimposed relation as shown in Figures1 and 4 by means of one or more dowel pins 6 (Figure 5) which engagecorrespondingly formed recesses inthe adjacent upper member l.

The rotor elements 2 are arranged in spaced relation upon a shaft 1 bymeans of spacing disks 8 which, together with said rotor elements 2, aresecured to said shaft I by means of a spline or of an apparatus2,ass,a1s minute or more, depending upon the iin'd'of ma ubstances andassure their continuous feed in passing through the apparatus. Top andbottom end or cover members I! and I6 are similarly positioned above thecasing member II and below the casing member I2, and the entire assemblycomprising the stationary members I, casings II and I2 and cover membersI5 and I8, is secured together by meansof'bolts I1 and supported by orupon a standard I! which is bolted or otherwise secured to the lowercover member II, as shown at Ila. The shaft 1 which carries the rotorelements 2, spacing disks 8 and feedelements I3 and I4, extends throughsleeves I8 threaded in the end members I! and I6 respectively and hasitsupper and lower end portions iournalled in suitable bearings "and 2Irespectively mounted in suitable supporting structures 22 and 23 whichare secured to the outer faces of the upper andlower end members I! andI6. The lower end of the shaft 1 is coupled as indicated at 24 to theshaft of an electric motor M which is supported in a suitable bracket 25secured to the standard I8 when assembled to form a channel or channelsC in which a suitable heating or cooling medium may be circulatedthrough pipes 21 and 28 and in order that the bearings 20 and 2| inwhich the shaft I is journalled may be maintained relatively cool duringoperation of the apparatus at high temperatures a channel 29 is formedin each supporting structure 22 and 23 through which water or othersubstance may be circulated by means of pipes 30 and 3|. To furtherassist in keeping the shaft I and bearing assembly relatively cool, saidshaft is provided with an axial bore 1a therein which extends from theupper key member 9. Asshown, the rotor elements 2 are ofgreater'diameter than the diameter of the "opening in the stationarymembers I as defined by their flange portion 3a and the peripherialportions thereof, which are provided with a series of teeth III, aredisposed beneath or at the underside of said flange portions 30 andopenings 4 I therein between adjacent stationary members I. Annularhousing or casing members II and I2 are disposed respectivelyimmediately above and below the succession or series of stationarymemhers I, and material feed elements II and I4 having threads In andIla respectively are secured upon the shaft I within each casing II andI2 by meansof the aforementioned spline or key 9. At this point,attention is called to,

; the fact that the feed elements are not for the purpose of forcing thematerials-or substances through the apparatus under high pressure, butare merely intended to assist said materials or the apparatus is runningend of the shaft to a point adjacent the lower end thereof where aplurality of angularly arranged ports 22 communicate outwardlytherefrom. These ports 32 extend rearwardly with respect to thedirection of rotation of the shaft 1 as shown in Figure 3 with theresult that upon rotation of said shaft suction is created at said ports32' which operates to draw cool air downwardly through the bore 1a ofsaid shaft while It will be clear that difierent substances dependingupon their various physical properties will require different clearancesbetween the flanges 3a of the stationary members I, and-the adjacentfaces of the rotor elements 2 in order that most efllcient results maybe obtained, especially since the present invention films to eliminatethe-rubbing or grinding action of theapparatus parts on the materialsbeing treated, and to this end a particular feature of the inventionconsists im providing for vertical adjustment of the rotor elements 2with respect to the station Vary members; In the present instance thisis accomplished by mounting the lower shaft bearing 2| in a sleeve orcollar member 33 which is supported in the lower supporting structure 23and adjustable vertically by means of two rings 34 and 35 whichthreadably engage said collar 33 above and below said structure 23.These rings 34 and 35 are each provided with a number of suitablylocated recesses 36 forthe reception of 35 to lower the sleeve 33, itsbearing 2| and the shaft I and its rotor elements 2; or to first loosenthe lower ring 35 and then tighten the upper ring 34 to raise the shaftand rotor assembly.

Vertical adjustment of the rotor elements 2 and shaft I is, of course,confined to micrometer adjustments of the clearance between said rotorelements and the adjacent surface of the flange portion 3a of itsassociated stationary member I and in order to facilitate and permitaccurate adjustments f such clearances, the upper adjusting ring 34 issuitably marked and graduated as indicated at 31 with respect to anarrow or pointer 38, the threads on .the sleeve or collar 33 and rings34 and 35 being formed ata predetermined pitch with respect to the scalemarkings 31 so that a single revolution of saidring 34 will effectadjustment of the rotor elements within normal operating limits toaccurately set said rotor elements at the indicated clearance below theoverhangingflange portions 3a of the corresponding stationary members I.When either ring 34 or 35- is first loosened to permit adjustment of therotor elements as above set forth by the other ring, the ring firstloosened may be subsequently tightened to lock the rotor elements andshaft assembly securely in the position to which adjusted.

As shown in Figure 1 of the drawings, the material to be treated, whichmay comprise one or more different substances, is fed inwardly of theapparatus from one Or more suitable tanks or receptacles connected to apipe or tube 42 which connects or leads to an inlet port 43 provided inthe top cover member IS. The pipe or tube 42 may be provided with asuitable valve 44 for controlling the feed of material into theapparatus.

In the operation of the apparatus, asthe material to be treated entersthrough the inlet port 43 at the upper end thereof, it is fed downwardlythrough the openings 4 in the flange of the upperthe lower end of theapparatus where the material which is reduced to particles of desiredfineness is forced outwardly or discharged from the apparatus, throughan outlet 48 and discharge pipe 50, by the lower feed member l4.

An apparatus made according to this invention is characterized by itshigh degree of selectivity and control over the material being treated.For example, the number of stationary members I and consequently rotorelements 2 employed in any given instance may depend upon the nature andproperties of the material to be treated as well as the degree offineness of the reduction desired and one or more sections comprising astationary member I and rotor element 2 may be added to or removed fromthe apparatus as desired with little labor and loss of time.

suitable cleaning solution through the apparatus.

most stationary member I by means of the screw thread I311 on the feedmember I3, the openings 4 inthe stationary member I acting to divide theof said material emerge'from' the lower ends of said openings 4, theyare engaged and cutor sheared or beaten up into'fine particles by theteeth ID at the periphery of the uppermost rotor element 2 which,because of the high speed as hereinbefore specified, also function tofling or fed material in portions. As the divided portions hurl thematerial wlth' substantial impact. and

great force against the surrounding wall portion 3 of the stationarymember I, reducing the particles to a further degree of fineness. As theparticles progress through the apparatus by the continuous feeding ofthe material, they flow inwardly along the upper surface of the flange 3of the next or succeeding stationary member I and thendownwardlythroughthe'openlngs 4 in that flange where they are again outor sheared or' beaten and picked up and impacted against the wall por--Thus the apparatus may be thoroughly cleansed without dismantling oropening the same.

From the foregoing, it will Ice/understood that I have providedanapparatus capable of disintegratingand homogenizing materials ,or sub-I stances in a characteristic manner, that is, by first cutting orshearing or beating up the fed materials or substances into particles,then hurling the latter against impact walls or surfaces,theseoperations being repeated in continuous sequences to produce thedesired results.

Of course, it is to be understood that the particular construction ofthe machine herein shown An apparatus for the homogenizationof material,comprising: a plurality of annular mem bersn'igidly locked axiallytogether in adjoining relationship to form a unitary body, each of saidmembers consisting of .an inner cylindrical impact wall portion-and aradially inwardly projecting fiangeportion, said wall and flangeportions being relatively disposed at substantially right angles to eachother; a row of longitudinally oriented openings with countersunk inletsformed in the flange portion of each of said members; .a rotor withinthe unitary body comprising rotor plates contacting andinterspersed withround spacer disks, each plate having peripherially extending teetharranged in radial alignment with respect to the impact wall portion' ofthe annular member and disp sed to closely sweep past the row ofopenings in the flange portion of the annular member, the spacer diskshaving a diameter only slightly less than tion of that member by theteeth I0 of the next or succeeding rotorelement .2 resulting in, furtherreduction of the particles of material. This operation continues untilthe particles of material have traversed the 'entirelength of thetortuous path provided by the several stationary and rotating members Iand'l. respectively and arrive at the internal diameter of the radiallyprojecting flanges of the, annular members; the spacing betweenthe disksand annular members substanzany confining the fiow of material treatedto sheared material against the impact wall pora tions.

' FREDERICK C. GOOD.

